Trama

After his wife dies, Roland Keene finds work as an actor with a road company, provided that he give up cards and liquor. The troupe has a poor season, and Keene is stranded in a mining town in Placer Valley. He meets Sal Flood there, and they are soon engaged, bringing west Keene's young son, Benny, for the wedding. Sal leaves the operation of her saloon to Keene, devoting herself to winning Benny's love and affection. Keene soon resumes his heavy drinking and is constantly cheated at cards by a professional gambler named Osner. Despite the interference of Steve McGregor, a mining superintendent, Keene continues to lose heavily to Osner; and, eventually, in order to pay off his IOU's, Keene is forced by the gambler to help him rob the saloon safe of McGregor's mining payroll. Benny sees his father steal the money and is injured by the blast from the dynamite used by Osner to blow the safe; but Benny still has faith in his father and, the following day, lies to the sheriff rather than implicate Keene. Keene is overcome with remorse for Benny's injuries and sets out to bring back the stolen gold. He tracks down Osner, and the two fight in the car of an aerial tramway. Osner falls to his death, Keene returns the gold, and he is pardoned and happily reunited with his family.—AFI

In the early 1900s, actor Roland Keene has an engagement out west. When he returns home to New York, he finds his wife has died, and he is forced to leave his son Benny when his acting group starts on a new tour. Keene finds himself stranded in Placer valley, a western mining town. There, he attracts the attention of Sal Flood, whose father has left her the big saloon/dancehall of the town. The two have a whirlwind romance, culminating in a wedding. Benny arrives in town on the wedding night, but refuses to accept Sal in place of his deceased mother. Sal tries to win Benny's love. Meanwhile, Keene gets mixed up with Red Osner, a crooked gambler, and Chita, Osner's love interest. Steve McGregor, who is the mine superintendent, tries to help out Keene, even though he is also in love with Sal. McGregor and Osner have a huge fistfight. As time passes, Keene falls deeper into gambling, and is forced to give Osner IOUs. Osner insinuates that McGregor and Sal are having an affair. Sal, who is growing weary of her husband's gambling, pays a surprise visit to the dancehall and discovers Keene with Chita. She denounces Keene and says they are through. Keene then falls further under the power of Osner, who promises to help Keene clear up his debts and also get even with McGregor. Benny, feeling that he must do something to help his father, sneaks down to the dancehall and discovers Keene aiding Osner in looting the safe, which is filled with gold. When dynamite placed under the safe explodes, Benny is injured. McGregor and the town sheriff find evidence pointing to Keene having taken part in the robbery. Benny, the only witness, lies to the sheriff to protect his father. This act finally brings Keene to his senses, and he is determined to redeem himself. He confronts Osner and demands the return of the gold. Osner escapes with the loot, and Keene gives chase. Keene overtakes Osner at the aerial tram. There is a terrific fight as the tram swings over a chasm. Osner is hurled to his death, while Keene is thrown to the ground when one of Osner's gang sets off an explosion. Benny finds his father, apparently lifeless, and the boy prays that his father may live. Keene returns to consciousness, and reconciles with Benny and Sal.